Care.com founder: Investors must relate to your customersThe idea for Care.com grew out of the life experiences of founder and CEO Sheila Marcelo, who struggled to find childcare while completing college. Marcelo's company has raised $111 million in funding since 2006. A key to successful fundraising is making sure investors can relate to the needs of those who will use your product, Marcelo says. "That was especially important for me in selling the Care.com story because women make the majority of the caregiving decisions for their families but most VC rooms are overwhelmingly male," she said.The Next Women
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Earn Your MS in Finance in 12 MonthsOffered online through the AACSB-accredited Kania School of Management, the MS in Finance can help to prepare you for various professional certifications, like the Chartered Financial Analyst certification. In addition, you can earn your Master of Science in Finance in as little as 12 months. Learn more.

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Leading the Pack

Can you still remember your company's values?A company's highfalutin statement of values won't count for much if nobody can remember it, writes Mary Jo Asmus. Keep your company's statement of purpose short and to the point, and consider investing in gimmicks to make them more memorable. "Print them on wallet-size cards, have them in your e-mail signature line and/or have an artist come up with pleasing wall hangings," Asmus suggests.SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
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Networking, product demos and other keys to raising moneyNetworking is a key part of the fundraising process, according to Dave Samuel, co-founder of investment firm Freestyle Capital. Samuel said his firm generally only considers making investments in companies that have been referred through its network. It's also important to make a demo of your product instead of showing investors PowerPoint slides, he said.Forbes
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The Whole Entrepreneur

Work-life study: Stress drops when you detachPeople who can unplug from work when they're home are more likely to recharge in their off hours and experience less job burnout, a Kansas State University researcher found. "If you have a strong technological boundary and self-restricted rules for using email, laptops or cellphones for work during off-work times, then you are more likely to experience psychological detachment from work," said YoungAh Park, assistant professor of psychology.MedicalXpress.com
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5 ways to fail as an entrepreneurIt's tempting to pursue every opportunity available to generate revenue, but this is ultimately a mistake, writes Lewis Howes. "Setting boundaries for the type of work and clients you want is vital to achieving long-term success," he writes. Other key mistakes include failing to verify your assumptions or develop an exit strategy.Entrepreneur online/The Daily Dose blog
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